The Carbon Academy – Harnessing the enthusiasm of

student officers

Jamie AgombarEthical & Environmental Manager

NUS Services

Carbon Academy workshop

Presentation 35 minsQuestions / comments / discussion 25 mins

NUS Services• The commercial arm of the NUS• A highly successful purchasing consortium• Consultancy and programmes; Ent’s and NUS Extra.• 25% owned by the NUS; 75% owned by 233 shareholder students' unions• A not-for-profit democratic company led by student volunteers

Ethical & Environmental at NUS Services

1) Greening suppliers

2) Greening unions

- Environmental audit scheme

- Sound Impact Awards

- Carbon Academy

3) Greening NUS Services

Good record of engagement

• Ethical & Environmental Committee – well respected.• Interactive programmes. SIA. CA…• E&E Officers / Interested Sabbaticals / SU managers.• Targeted communications:

• Newswires – get them when they are fresh!• Trading News.• Websites, NUS mailings, seminars.

• Networking: • Our own events. • Key partners: NUS; People & Planet; EAUC.

Case study: The Carbon Academy

• Bespoke designed to fit our unique membership• Funded through Carbon Trust Networks Initiative• Project budget £70,000• Supported by NUS, EAUC and People & Planet

The environmental impact of Students’ Unions

Our membership• 233 Unions: 137 shops and 426 bars

• 80% do not pay for utilities (44 we know of do)

• Through audits we found £324k savings through no or low cost actions = approx 12% of utilities.

• Energy / water data from 22 separately metered unions. Average 624 t/CO2/year. 12% = 75 t/CO2/year.

• 233 members x 624 t/CO2/year = 145,000 t/CO2/year

• 233 x 75 = 17,475 t/CO2/year being wasted!!

4) Evaluation

Roving champions

Communicating project to membership

Carbon competition

Carbon Academy

2) Toolkit1) Pilot3) Facilitate uptake by

Unions

ObjectiveReduce carbon footprint of student union movement by 4% over next three years (5,500 tCO2)

The Carbon Academy

638-850 tCO2/year (15-20%)

30 SUs 7.5-10% 1,594-2,125 tCO2/year

50 SUs 3.5-5% = 1,771-2,361 tCO2/year

The Challenges• Most not metered• Rapid turnover of management• Limited knowledge• Limited resources and competition for time

The Positives• Common opportunities• Keen to be green• Sabbatical officers: bags of enthusiasm• Competitive spirit• Close-knit community

Phase 1 - Pilots

1. Loughborough Students' Union

2. Sheffield Hallam Union

3. University of Abertay Dundee Students Association

4. University of Bristol Union

5. University of London Union

6. University of Warwick Students' Union

Three-day intensive programme

1) Best practice audit

2) Technical audit

3) Global Action Plan motivational training

- Cross section, fun!

4) SMART Action Plan

- All senior managers, officers

Global Action PlanThe practical environmental charity

“the best organisation to engage people in environmental change” Jonathon Porritt, Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission

1) Loughborough

1) Loughborough• AC in media centre (11.3t, £1.7k)• T8 to T5 (6.3t, £1k)

Glycol (3.2t, £510)

Loughborough Students' Union - Difference by week 2007 vs. 2006

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Loughborough Students' Union - Difference by week 2008 vs. 2007

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So far (35 weeks)…

5.0% reduction kWh

4.6 tCO2 saved

Projected savings per year

26.0 tCO2/yr

£6,066

2) Bristol• Windows (20.3t, £2.7k)• LERP (18t, £4k) & vacation shutdown (10.4t, £2.2k)

TFLs (11.5t, £1.9k)

Swimming pool timers & cover (36.8t, £5k)

University of Bristol Union - Difference by w eek 2007 vs. 2006

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University of Bristol Union - Difference by w eek 2008 vs. 2007

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University of Bristol Union - Daily energy consumption 2007

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So far (35 weeks)…

9.2 % reduction kWh

28.0 tCO2 saved

Projected savings per year

43.0 tCO2/yr

£9,948

3) Sheffield Hallam • 248v to 216.2v (56.0t, £12.6k)

28 W on standby!!

Lights in A, B and C Pods (4.3t, £970)

Motion sensors P-Pod & stores (4.4t, £900)

Sheffield Hallam University Union of Students - Difference by w eek 2007 vs. 2006

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Sheffield Hallam University Union of Students - Difference by week 2008 vs. 2007

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NB: 1 kWh = 10p; 1,000 kWh = £100

So far (35 weeks)…

4.1 % reduction kWh

12.0 tCO2 saved

Projected savings per year

19 tCO2/yr

£4,454

4) Abertay• 4kW emergency lighting (11.27t, £1.7k)

BMS (32.1t, £5.7k)

Label light switches (1.7t, £300)

University of Abertay Dundee Students Association - Difference by week 2007 vs. 2006

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Unive r s ity o f A b e r tay Du n d e e Stu d e n ts A s s o ciatio n - Dif fe r e n ce b y w e e k 2008 vs. 2007

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NB: 1 kWh = 10p; 1,000 kWh = £100

So far (35 weeks)…

5.3% reduction kWh

9.9 tCO2 saved

Projected savings per year

15 tCO2/yr

£3,514

5) Warwick • A/C on BMS (12.4t, £2.2k)• Passport photo machine (1.0t, £177)

Remove bulbs (0.7t, £130) Light sensors (4.8t, £840)

LERP (23.0t, £4k)

University of Warwick Students' Union - electricity - Difference by week 2007 vs. 2006

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University of Warwick Students' Union - electricity - Difference by week 2008 vs. 2007

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6) ULU• Bottle fridges off (17.0t, £2.6k)

Venue heating / Nightclub cooling (22.0t, £3.3k)

275 x 50W GU10s (19.4t, £3.1k)

Comfort cooling policy (8.6t, £1.3k)

University of London Union - Difference by week 2008 vs. 2007

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Un ive r s it y o f L o n d o n Un io n - Dif f e r e n ce b y w e e k 200 7 vs . 2 006

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University of London Union - Daily energy consumption 2007

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So far (35 weeks)…

10.9 % reduction kWh

37.0 tCO2 saved

Projected savings per year

132 tCO2/yr

£30,740

Pilot data summary: Potential vs. achieved

 Footprint tCO2/yr

Investment Potential

% reduction

Likely Potential annual

savings £££ Likely

Potential savings tCO2/yr

Likely

Loughborough 679.9 £20,375 8.9 5.0 £9,648 £6,066 60.6 26.1

Bristol 1021.4 £3,606 13.4 9.2 £23,663 £9,948 137.1 42.8

Sheffield Hallam 433.7 £12,044 26.2 4.1 £24,624 £4,454 113.7 19.2

Abertay 392.3 £19,554 24.6 5.3 £16,957 £3,514 96.3 15.1

Warwick 671.1 £4,757 16.1 ??? £19,477 ??? 107.9 ???

ULU 631.4 £4,420 25.4 10.9 £28,508 £30,740 160.1 132.2

Average reduction: 6.9% / £11,000 / 47 tonnes

Bid target 15-20% / 106-142 tCO2/year

Phase 2 – Online toolkit

Priority action briefing (30m)

Case studies (1hr)

Energy audit check list (1/2 day)

Stickers and posters (targeted)

www.nussl.co.uk

Bid target:

30 SUs 7.5-10% =1,594-2,125 tCO2/year

50 SUs 3.5-5% = 1,771-2,361 tCO2/year

Priority action briefingEquipment1. Games machines; photo machines; vendors; water coolers; laser

printers. 2. Personal kettles and fridges

Fridges3. Location of ice machines 4. 48h rule for bottle fridges5. Dairy deck blinds

Heating, cooling and ventilation6. Don’t assume switched off by timers 7. Switch off as early as soon as possible 8. BMS9. Comfort cooling and heating policy

Lighting10. Old standard tungsten filament bulbs 11. Halogen GU10 spotlights 12. Cleaners. 13. Motion sensors14. Light sensors15. Over-lighting. 16. Banks of switches.

Water17. All urinals should be regulated.

Awareness18. Nurture a switch off culture

Generic operations19. Maintenance plan for efficiency. Fan grills and de-icing.20. Lighting & equipment responsibility; Vacation shutdown.

Phase 3 - Rollout

A) The Carbon Academy

B) Carbon Ambassador programme

C) Carbon competition

Bid target:

30 SUs 7.5-10% =1,594-2,125 tCO2/year

50 SUs 3.5-5% = 1,771-2,361 tCO2/year

A) The Carbon Academy

• January tour

• 120 delegates

• 71 unions

• Practical auditing skills; The maths.

• 8.9 feedback

• Lots of action taken already!

B) Carbon ambassador programme

15 volunteers (48 applications - overwhelmed!!)

Manchester training

Audit on top 20 findings

Report

40 completed

Excellent feedback– most recommendations actioned

Meter monitoring

C) Carbon competition

• Dec – March

• Percentage reductions

• £500 prize per month

• www.nussl.co.uk

Carbon Academy Carbon Competition: % reduction in energy used Dec '07 vs. Dec '06

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2.2

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Loughborough Students'Union

University of Bristol Union Sheffield Hallam Union University of AbertayDundee Students'

Association

University of WarwickStudents' Union

University of London Union

Carbon Academy Carbon Competition: % reduction in energy used Jan '08 vs. Jan '07

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Loughborough Students'Union

University of Bristol Union Sheffield Hallam Union University of AbertayDundee Students'

Association

University of WarwickStudents' Union

University of London Union

Summary of case study

Savings• Proven easy to save 5-10% with no cost.• Can achieve 15-25% savings with investment.• On target to achieve 4,500 tCO2/year savings.

Issues addressed• Best practice on common energy efficiency issues.• Identified area for further support as ventilation and

supplier equipment…

Success factors?1. Frequent, targeted communications

- Three pronged attack!2. Make it as easy as possible and make it fun.3. Give them something for their efforts:

- Certificates- Life long learning- Success

4. Play on strong competitive spirit.5. Build on SIA - a bridge.6. (Shout about cost savings).

Project 1) New Networks Initiative bid

• £30k bid • Ventilation in the wake of the smoking ban• Recycling waste heat• Briars Consultants• Partnering with BEDA = 6,000 tCO2/yr (1,500 + 4,500)

Two new projects

Pilots• University of Birmingham Guild of Students• Keele University Students' Union• Lancaster University Students' Union• Reading University Students' Union• The University of Manchester Students' Union• Union of UEA Students• University of Central Lancashire Students' Union• University of Essex Students' Union• University of Surrey Students' Union• University of Teesside Students' Union

Project 2) Reducing energy used by supplier equipment

• Carbon Academy showed supplier equipment up to 10% of energy used.

• CCE timers and EMS technology impressive. Also HCFC-free.

• £30k funding from CCGB.

• Little guidance / lots confusion on best practice:Switch on / off? Bye Bye Standby? Set point temperatures? E-cubes? Fridge location / condensers? Standby? Running costs?

• Focus on CCE equipment: Postmix, chiller cabinets, dairy decks, vendors.

• Also other equipment: Other chiller cabinets, dairy decks and vendors; games machines; passport photo machines; poster display boards; plasma screens.

• Detailed studies of each for all relevant questions.

Objectives• Develop categorical guidance for how to manage

equipment for energy efficiency without affecting equipment / sales.

• Cascade lessons through the membership and beyond to achieve maximum savings.

• Achieve savings of 750 – 1,000 tCO2/year through the project.

Deliverables• Detailed studies using energy trackers / portable

metering at pilot unions including controls. • Concise and relevant fact sheets – for In Session Feb

2009, Convention April 2009 and Trading news series.• Regional training events in April 2009.

Questions, comments and discussion

Thank you for listening

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